Thursday, January 1, 2009

The beginning of another year seems to take on more importance with each new one, must be a getting old thing! Actually it is probably me taking 52 years to get my head out of my rear end enough to see things for a lot more of what they are in real life.

First the not so fun review of 2008 - you might want to skip this paragraph.

Looking back at this past year, 2008 was what I can best describe as a roller coaster from hell. The year started with Kay (my awesome wife) battling breast cancer. Surgery, chemo, radiation were all tough, but facing the realization of possibly her not being in my life sent me to a level of fear that I cannot even begin to put into words. I really do not have a clue how people who do not have Christ in their life as their savior make it through such times. During the whole cancer battle, Kay was phenomenal! Her courage, strength and faith were awe inspiring. The "roller coaster" swung back toward the heavens when Kay was diagnosed as cancer free this fall! This year also saw my daughter Allie graduate from high school and go off to college. This was like one of those little rise and dips on the roller coaster that, once you quit throwing up, you laugh about how fun it was. In '08, I learned that I not only loved my wife, but am in love with her as well. We got to spend a lot of time together and I loved that part. Then school started back. Kay went back into teaching first grade, which means not getting home until sometime between 8 and 10 each night. Then I came out of coaching retirement and took on the interim head cheerleading coach position (a whole 'nuther post), which put me home a lot later most days. So much for time spent with Kay. God decided that it was time for me to do what He had called me do and help plant a church in Oak Ridge. I was a little slow on the uptake, and He had to "take the velvet off the hammer" in order to get my attention. It meant leaving a church where we had served for several years and I had gotten comfortable. So God made sure I was uncomfortable enough to quit doing things my way and do them His way.The roller coaster finally pulled back into the platform and here I am getting off that ride.

So what is the this year's ride going be like. For starters, the cancer is behind us (hopefully and prayerfully forever)! That makes for a great start! The Ridge Community Church is in the pre-launch stage and picking up speed for a March launch!!!! The "transition" of me becoming the cheerleading coach should almost be complete for both me and the girls on the team, so things should pick up speed there as well as the wailing and gnashing of teeth subsides. It appears that this year's ride isn't going to be one that starts with a long, slow climb up a steep track, but more of one where you get shot out at full speed right from the beginning.

So I start 2009 by holding on tight, praying A LOT, and trying real hard to not scream like a little girl!!!!!

Here is my "Personal Growth Plan" (refined -aka snobbish - way of saying new year resolution) for 2009:

1. Daily quiet time/prayer time and Bible study.2. Read 15 books this year (read 14 in '08)3. Attend one church related conference.4. Visit 3 churches.5. Compliment Kay each day, Allie each day that I see/talk to her, and one other person each day. (I really, really suck at this!)6. Maintain a body weight of 185-1907. Get my body fat % to 15%. (Same goals last year - I went from 192 to 195, 22.5% to 23% body fat - going in the wrong directions -aghhhhhhh!8. Walk at least 3 miles each week9. Get cholesterol under 18010. Help make The Ridge Community Church a church that puts a smile of God's face!!!!!

This fulfills my obligatory year in review/new year plan blog! Feel free to wipe the tears from you keyboard if it bored you to tears. In all seriousness, I pray that God touches you in a way this year that both fulfills you and more importantly brings you closer to His plans for you! Amen!